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Countdown to Pluto

Pluto in a Minute

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On July 14, at 7:49:59 a.m. EDT (11:49:59 UTC) NASA's New Horizons spacecraft will make its historic closest approach to the dwarf planet Pluto, the most distant solid object to be visited by a spacecraft.

NASA will not be in contact with the spacecraft at closest approach since the spacecraft's instruments will be pointed at Pluto, an orientation that will take the spacecraft's fixed communications antenna off earth point. Earthlings will need to wait about 13 hours, until about 9 pm EDT, for a signal from the spacecraft to arrive at Earth.

On April 14, 90 days before the flyby, NASA held an overview briefing at NASA HQ in Washington, DC for media and other interested parties. The two-part briefing is available online here: Part I and Part II. View the Press Conference graphics here.

In June 2015, the mission provided weekly updates to follow New Horizons to Pluto. The programs aired on June 9, June 16, June 23 and June 30.

Highlights of News Briefing and Televised Event Schedule

The final pre-flyby images of Pluto will be unveiled during a special broadcast on Tuesday, July 14, to mark the moment New Horizons makes its closest approach to Pluto at 7:49 a.m. EDT.

'PHONE HOME'

During the busiest hours of the flyby on July 13-14 – including close approach –the New Horizons spacecraft will be out of contact with the APL Mission Operations Center. A program from approximately 8:15 – 9:15 p.m. on July 14 will cover mission operations as the team awaits a signal from the spacecraft indicating its health and that contact has resumed.

July 15

'CLOSE-UP IMAGES'

The first post-flyby close-up images of Pluto and its moons are scheduled to be released at various times on Wednesday, July 15.